John Hartford

"The Most Laid Back Festival in America" is about bringing together the very best Americana/Roots Music we can find, along with like-minded music lovers and jammers, all in a beautiful setting, to become one big family with the intentions of paying tribute to the Father of Newgrass, the rule breaking game changer, John Hartford.

The Fox Theater in Boulder has started a Tuesday night bluegrass tradition. On this evening, after the extremely talented and quickly emerging Caribou Mountain Collective, a bluegrass all-star cast graced the stage to honor an important player in the bluegrass world. John Hartford is probably one the most underrated bluegrass musician ever.

Get ready, festival season is just around the corner! Daily planning can now begin for the 4th Annual John Hartford Memorial Festival (JHMF), who recently released their daily performance schedule on a new dynamic web site. Single day festival tickets are also available for purchase, in addition to the full 3-day pass, so attendees can make their plans now for the event taking place May 29-31.

The 2014 John Hartford Memorial Festival (JHMF) Songwriting Contest has begun accepting entries, marking the start of its second year inspiring songwriters to go where they haven’t gone before. The songwriting contest is a little different than most, as it takes part in ensuring the legacy of John Hartford continues and thrives. Contest winners are awarded with a main stage performance and free 3-day festival ticket.Many great songwriters have come and gone, but few have been groundbreaking trendsetters.

Cheers erupted from the crowd as the first line up announcement was made for the 4th Annual John Hartford Memorial Festival (JHMF), during the morning Chompdown at their annual Fall Festival & Pickin’ Party that recently occurred. For those who may not know, Chompdown is a pot luck-style gathering where volunteers cook up fresh food and goodies for all to enjoy, adding a community feel to a public event.

The time has finally arrived after surviving the many long months of winter, finally, festival season. “I grabbed my sleeping bag from behind the couch and headed out the door on a path that’s free to walk”. It’s time to celebrate the life and music of one the greatest writers of the 20th century, time for the John Hartford Memorial Festival, year III.

Preparations are underway for the 3rd Annual John Hartford Memorial Festival being held in the hills of southern Indiana at the Official Bean Blossom & Bill Monroe Music Park in beautiful Brown County, May 30–June 1. This is the third of what the festival’s creator, John Hotze, and co-promoter, Dan Dillman, hope to see as an event to preserve the legacy and music of the late John Hartford, one of America’s most beloved songwriter/performers and musicians.

Grateful Web was recently fortunate enough to speak with bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist, David Grisman. Dawg was kind enough to share some of his history with bluegrass legend, Del McCoury, David & Del’s new release, Hardcore Bluegrass in the Dawg House, Davi